Damaged in Service by Barrett

FBI Special Agent Zeke Cabot is suffering from PTSD. She had just finished a gruelling undercover job, had a car accident causing a head injury and was at the end of her rope. Enough really was enough and she set off for a much earned extended vacation to New Mexico. Unfortunately, Zeke isn’t going to get the rest and relaxation she so badly needs.

When Zeke arrived in New Mexico she bumped into an intriguing blond nurse, Anne Reynolds, not once but twice. As fate would have it, there was a third time when Zeke and Anne met. This time while Anne was out riding her horse, she came across Zeke after she had been involved in a hiking accident and she found herself looking down the barrel of Zeke’s gun. After Anne gets over the shock she arranges to take Zeke to the hospital and then home with her to look after her. The two women begin to get to know one another. Anne finds herself struggling with her feelings towards Zeke. She has not long been through a nasty divorce with a man and has never been attracted to a woman before, until now. What can be happening to her? Zeke is also struggling with her feelings towards Anne. Anne is straight and therefore unavailable, isn’t she?

Meanwhile, on Zeke’s job front, all is not well. There are questions unanswered from her previous assignment. Enquiries are being made about Zeke’s whereabouts by persons unknown. She is called into the local FBI office, but can’t shed any light as to who is trying to locate her or why she is being sought out.

Anne and Zeke continue to get to know each other better and to begin to pursue the possibilities of having a relationship. They go away for a romantic weekend in Taos and are attacked by two men and Zeke is assaulted. Fortunately the FBI find them and think the two men are connected to Zeke’s previous case. The experience has set Zeke back though and all her insecurities return. What will happen now? Will Anne and Zeke continue their fledgling relationship? Will Anne be able to help Zeke get over her PTSD? Will their attackers be caught?

I Have to say I was totally hooked on this story from the very beginning of the book.
The opening sentences are just a tiny taste of the excitement to come. This is Barrett’s first book in a series. It is a fast paced story with lovely scenic descriptions. I not only lost myself in the story, but the scenery as well. There is a nice cast of supporting characters. T.J, Zeke’s friend pops up from time to time, it is obvious they are long term best friends. It would be nice to see more of her in the sequels. The various FBI agents are just as I would imagine them to be. So are the baddies.

I only have one gripe about this excellent book, it did not conclude and I don’t do waiting for sequels very well. But yes, I will have to wait. I want the next book though, sooner rather than later. A brilliant debut book.